YouGov President to discuss equality

Peter Kellner, President of YouGov, will give the annual Behaviour and Health Research Unit lecture this Thursday, 25 April 2013.

“Equality remains a long-term goal for progressive politics, but it needs a new definition so that we measure equality and inequality less by reference to Gini coefficients of income, or data on wealth, and more by access to the things that enable people to lead fulfilling lives - such as decent housing, universal access to good quality schools and healthcare, clean air, places for children to play safely, crime-free neighbourhoods and so on,” argues Kellner.

“Where we do consider income inequality, we should be clear about the distinctions between justifiable inequality (e.g. resulting from effort, talent, risk-taking etc.) and unjustifiable inequality (e.g. race and gender differences).”

Peter Kellner’s talk, Redefining Equality, is at 6pm, registration from 5.40, at the Howard Lecture Theatre, Downing College Cambridge (map). This lecture is open to members of public. To attend the lecture, please go to the following website: http://www.cpp.csap.cam.ac.uk/events/behaviour-and-health-research-unit-annual-lecture/signup/

The lecture is jointly sponsored by the Behaviour and Health Research Unit and Cambridge Public Policy.

Professor Theresa Marteau, Director of the Behaviour and Health Research Unit at Cambridge said: “The ability of the majority to lead fulfilling, long and healthy lives is undermined by their lack of core resources including good education, work, money and living in environments that make healthier behaviour the easiest options. Redefining equality may provide a new, much needed set of lens through which to consider the problem and its multiple solutions.”

”Work of this kind is essential and in time, could lead to better public policy decision making and a more stable and content society,” states Miranda Gomperts, Director of Programme Development for Cambridge Public Policy.

The Behaviour and Health Research Unit (BHRU) is collaboration between experts from the University of Cambridge, RAND Europe and the University of East Anglia. The aim of the BHRU is to contribute evidence to national and international efforts to achieve sustained behaviour change that improves health outcomes and reduces health inequalities. It is funded by the Department of Health Policy Research Programme to inform policy-making on behaviour and health

Cambridge Public Policy (CPP) is a new initiative set up to coordinate, support and encourage the development of new approaches to public policy, informed by the best available research, teaching and practice. Throughout the year CPP runs open lectures, seminars and other events providing audiences with the opportunity to hear from, challenge and debate with ministers, senior civil servants, representatives from industry and academia. CPP is leading the development of the new Cambridge Master’s in Public Policy which will welcome the first cohort of students in October 2013.